HK bans import of poultry meat and products from Jasper County, State of Missouri, US

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (May 4) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of low pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in Jasper County, State of Missouri, the United States (US), it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the county with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public health.

A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong imported about 59 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 80 million poultry eggs from the US in the first three months of this year.

"The CFS has contacted the US authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.

Ends/Wednesday, May 4, 2016